Calendar

AUG. 26

On Friday, Aug. 26, and the fourth Friday of every month, Venue on the Lake – Maitland Civic Center hosts a pizza night from 6 to 9 p.m. The event features live music and a beer bar. Call 407-647-2111 for more information.

AUG. 27

Central Florida’s most distinguished chefs will join forces from 6:45 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Orlando World Center Marriot, 8701 World Center Drive, to help fight the nation’s childhood hunger epidemic at Orlando's Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry. Forty-two of the area’s most accomplished chefs will showcase tasting portions of signature dishes, accompanied by fine wines, craft beers and specialty cocktails. New to this year’s event are nine of the area’s most popular and exciting restaurants including Benihana, Canvas Lake Nona, Eleven and Forte at Reunion Resort, Hemisphere Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, Nova Scratch Kitchen, The Osprey Tavern, Restaurant ASH, and The Rusty Spoon. Tickets are $150 each. For more information, visit ce.strength.org/Orlando

AUG. 28

Join the Roth Family JCC for a free Wiggle and Giggle concert for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their families starring Mr. Richard on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 851 N. Maitland Ave. For more information, call Karen Duncan at 407-645-0923.

MicheLee Puppets is slated to present a puppet performance with empowering message aimed at youth during the Sunday Family Fun Day at the Venue on the Lake-Maitland Civic Center. Show times are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and the event is free. There will be parent and child puppet-making workshops following each performance.

SEPT. 1

A Beach Party Picnic will run from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, at Gentry Park Orlando – Assisted Living Facility, located at 3201 Center Pointe Drive in Orlando. The event will include rum tasting stations, beach-inspired cuisine, music, and fabulous giveaways. Please RSVP by Aug. 26 to Lisa Kaplan at 407-382-1002.

SEPT. 2

A seminar titled “How to determine the stages of dementia” will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Sept. 2, at Reeves United Methodist Church, located at 1100 N. Ferncreek Ave. in Orlando. Caregivers and family members will learn how to better deal with their loved one by understanding the loss of cognitive function and what stage they are experiencing. Check in begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 407-843-1910, ext. 301.

SEPT. 3

The Woman’s Club of Winter Park annual Rummage Sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 419 S. Interlachen Ave. All funds will be used for charitable giving. For more information, call 407-376-4129.

SEPT. 8

If you enjoy nature, the Winter Park Garden Club invites you to attend an open house for prospective members on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. The open house and plant clinic will be held at their clubhouse, which is located in the heart of Mead Garden at 1300 S. Denning Drive in Winter Park. Refreshments will be served. Tom MacCubbin, one of Florida’s foremost lawn and garden experts, will be at the open house to identify plants in your yard and diagnose diseases they might have. So bring a clipping of your plants with you if you have questions about them. For more information, call 407-644-5770.

The Popcorn Flicks in the Park series continues on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m. with a free screening of “Cool Hand Luke” in Winter Park’s Central Park. Presented by Winter Park CRA and produced by Enzian Theater, this film series features classic films for the whole family. Bring a blanket, a picnic or snacks, and some family and friends. Free popcorn will be available for everyone. For more information, please call 407-629-0054.

SEPT. 15

The Southern Women’s Show returns to the Orlando area Sept. 15 to18 at the Orange County Convention Center. With over 450 exhibits, the show is recognized as a premier event for women in Central Florida. The show features everything from fashion and accessories to health and fitness, home décor, family lifestyle and all that's important to women. This shopping extravaganza will be jam-packed with cool jewelry and handbags, make-up tips and tricks, delicious gourmet treats and more. Besides the incredible shopping, guests can enjoy runway fashion shows, cooking classes and informed speakers. Visit southernshows.com for more information.

On Thursday, Sept. 15, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Park Avenue Merchants Association will host the popular Winter Park Sip, Shop & Stroll, an evening of wine and hors d’oeuvres in downtown Winter Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Held seasonally, Sip, Shop & Stroll events allow attendees to experience local shops and restaurants at their leisure and preview the latest fashions, gift ideas and seasonal menu items. The Winter Park Sip, Shop & Stroll will feature 20 local merchants. Admission is $25 and includes a wine glass and passport. Reservations are strongly encouraged by contacting the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce at 407-644-8281 or online at winterpark.org.

SEPT. 16

Crealdé School of Art kicks off its 2016-17 exhibition season with an original two-venue exhibition of diverse and multicultural artists titled “Spinning Yarn: Storytelling Through Southern Art” opening Friday, Sept. 16, at the Alice & William Jenkins Gallery and the Hannibal Square Heritage Center. The evening begins with a 7 to 8:30 p.m. reception at the Jenkins Gallery and continues from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the Hannibal Square Heritage Center with live music. The event is free.

SEPT. 24

The annual Black & White Gala is an evening of elegance, fine dining and world-class entertainment starting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Hyatt Regency Orlando, located at 9801 International Drive in Orlando. A black tie event, the Gala is held each year to benefit Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort in Central Florida that exists only to make dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Guests enjoy spectacular themed entertainment and sumptuous food, as well as a tempting array of auction items on which to bid, including shopping excursions, travel packages, something for sports fanatics and for food enthusiasts and everything in between. Ticket and auction sales go directly toward helping to create the happiness that inspires hope for families. Tables also are available. For more information, contact Beth Ann Carr, director of special events, at [email protected] or call 407-396-1114, ext. 4245.

OCT. 27

The Mayflower Retirement Community is issuing a call for local artists to participate in its third annual juried 55-plus senior art show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 1620 Mayflower Court in Winter Park. A Merit Award of $100 will be awarded in each category, and an overall Best of Show award of $200 will also be presented. Categories include: paintings (oil, acrylic and watercolor); drawings (pencil, pastel and charcoal); photography; and 3-D mixed media (wood, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, weaving, basket weaving, needlework and textiles). The deadline for entries is Oct. 7. For qualifications and to register, go to TheMayflower.com/ArtShow or pick up a form at the front desk in The Mayflower lobby.

ONGOING

Merchants along Park Avenue are selling topiary displays of pets and wildlife through the month of September, with all funds supporting the Lost Pets Foundation, WinterParkLostPets.com and Canine Companions for Independence. Last year the same effort raised roughly $3,700.